[Methods of monitoring health care needs of the aged]

The Monitoring of Healthcare Needs (MHN) of the elderly was begun in the Republic of Croatia in 1989, with all healthcare data linked to the patients identity card numbers. Such an approach is the usual basis of healthcare planning in developed countries. Another innovation in MHN is that, as well as information about healthcare, records are compiled on the functional states of the elderly, which is a precondition for the efficient provision of healthcare services appropriate to the needs of the patients. Among the people (3709 in total) covered by the MHN scheme at the end of 1989, 2760 people of average age 77 years were living in long-term care institutions in Zagreb. It is found that this people become ill more frequently than people who are covered by the general healthcare programme and do not live in long-term care institutions. Because of a change in functional state, one third of elderly people require specific permanent in-patient healthcare, while from time to time almost one quarter of people covered by the scheme and living in long-term care institutions need such treatment. On the basis of the MHN scheme, it is possible to appropriately promote and organise primary healthcare for the elderly.